Tube-polishing mechanism.



M. B. LLOYD.

TUBE POLISHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27| I915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- ]Paten'ted M Pmtembad May 30, 1916 2 5HEET8SHEET 2- MLB. LLOYD.

TUBE POLISHING MECHANISM. APPLICATION mu) JAN. 27. m5.

snares PATENT onrrba.

MARSHALL B. LLOYD, 01E MENOMINEE, MICHIGA1\T ."ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ELYRIA IRON & STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TUBE-POLISHING MECHANIS'IVI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May so, rare.

Application filed January 27, 1915. Serial No. 4,625.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARSHALL B. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Menominee, in the county of Menominee and State of Michigan, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Polishing Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a continuation of my pending application Serial No. 713,851, filed August 7th, 1912, and my pending application Serial No. 790,776, filed Septem: her 19th, 1913, being'for improvements disclosed but not, specifically claimed therein.

My invention relates to machinery for producing metal tubing, and has specialreference to improvements in mechanisms for rounding and surface finishing metal tubing, and particularly thin-Walled metal tubing.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby such tubing may be rapidly and uniformly sized and polished; and more especially. to provide means which shall be adapted to reduce metal tubing to circular cross section and re-form and polish the surface thereof as rapidly as the tubing emerges from the mechanism by which it is formed.

As will presently appear, in many cases the reduction of-the size of the tubing is incidental to the rounding of the tube and the polishing of its surface; and again, the rounding of the tubing is chiefly incidental to the reforming and smoothing or polishing of its surface skin, for the operations,

which effect that also insure the circularity of the tubing and may slightly, and if decation, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of those parts of a tube mill which embody my invention; Fig. 2 is a'vertical, longitudinal section, enlarged, on the line XX of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 -is a still further enlarged longitudinal section of the polishing head; Fig. 4 is a transverse, enlarged, section on the line YY of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line Z -Z of Fig. 3.

The invention herein described may be embodied in continuous tube mills. of the kind described and claimed in Letters Pat ent No. 1,027,865, granted May 28th, 1912; and, in the drawings the mechanisms marked A are continuous Vises, which correspond to the continuous vise marked E insaid Patent No. 1,027,865.

l[n Fig. 1 of the drawings two continuous vises A, A, are shown; the machine being adapted to produce two tubes at one time. The mechanisms A here shown draw the metal. tubing, T, in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 and thrust, feed or propel it through respective polishing mechanisms, B, B. For the detailed construction of each traveling vise, A, here shown, I refer to -Iny pending application Serial No. 798,659, filed October 31, 1913. In general, each vise A comprises two elongated chains or-belt-like members, each composed of a plurality of sections or jaws shaped to fit the tubing, T. In the middle or working stretch of the vise, the opposed sections close upon and firmly grip the tubing. Thus pulsive force with respect to the polisher,

The grip of the jaws is sufficient to posi tively hold the tubing against rotation, and

this positive holding of the tubes is a factor in the successful action ofthe polishing devices, B, which receive the tubing from respective Vises. Each traveling vise A is propelled continuously, as by the gears a, and serves to feed or propel the tubing to the polisher at a constant rate of speed.

The condition in which the tubing reaches the polishing head of the mechanism, B, is determined by the character of the process by which the tubing is produced. In the case of a continuous tube mill, the tubing which enters the continuous vise and is thereby fed to the polishing mechanism, is not always exactly circular in cross section and frequently its surface is rough as well as dull and longitudinally scored. 7 Such inaccuracies are corrected by the polishing mechanism, B, which reduces the tubing to circular form, even when'the reduction in size is minute, and which also smooths and brightens the surface of the tube; acting thereon progressively, or as fast as it emerges from the vise, or other device, used to hold and feed the tubing. While my invention is particularly intended for use in continuous tube mills, it may, nevertheless, be used for finishing relatively short lengths of metal tubing.

The visesfA, A, are preferably parallel, and the polishing mechanisms, B, B, are likewise parallel, and are supported by the same main frame, C, being in alinement with respective Vises. Each polishing mechanism has two chief elements, the first being, a hollow spindle 2, (see Figs. land-2) mounted in bearings b, b, on the frame, 0; and the second being a polishing head, which is carried by that end of the spindle which is adjacent thevise. For each-spindle I provide, on the frame,"C, a tail block, 6 for the purpose hereinafter explained. Between the bearings, b, b,-- the spindle 2 is provided with a sprocket gear'b"; an for driving the two spindles with their heads, I employ a mechanism, D, positioned between them;

such driving means being suitable for a double mill of the kind represented in Fig. 1.- The mechanism, D, includes a countershaft, (Z, mounted in bearings, d, and driven,

by bevel gears, (1 from a shaft (1 A driving belt or the like, (2 on the shaft, d serves to rotate the countershaft at high speed. The .countershaft is. equipped with two sprocket gears, (Z preferably larger than the gears, b", on the hollow spindles. The sprockets, b are connected with respective sprockets, d, by belts, a1. are joined to the ,countershaft, d, by

friction clutches or the like, (1. By these means both spindles are driven from .the single driving connection, (1. Clutch shifters, 03 are provided for disconnecting respective hollow spindles from the driver, d,

5 as when the vises are stopped. In practice,

the hollow spindles of the pol' hing mecha- 'nisms are rotated at high speed, preferably,-

several thousand revolutions per minute.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the hollow spindle, 2, held in the bearings 6'56, 6 is provided with an enlarged end or face-plate, To this face-plate I attach the polishing head, drum or shell, 4, as by meansof a union joint, 5. The end of the drum, 4, is provided with a flange, 4, which fits the shoulder, 3', of the face-plate and the union connection, 5, when screwe tightly on the face-plate, holds the'drum rigidly concentric with the hollow spindle. Thus the inner periphery of the drum, 4, is made concentric with the projected axis of the hollow spindle, 2. The drum, 4, is held against rotation on the spindle, as by a key pin, 3?, in the face-plate, entering a notch, 4, in the flanged end of thedrum. The oppo- 'dle in its bearings, b,

The sprockets,

site end of the drum is closed by a plate, 6, rigidly secured thereto,but preferably removable. The plate, 6, has a nozzle-like or flaring end' that enters a circumferential drain cup, e. This cup receives the water which is used in the operation, 'as hereinafter explained. The opening, 6", in the plate, 6, is considerably larger than the'tubing, T, for which the parts are proportioned. The opening, 2', within the hollow spindle is likewise larger. The tubing may therefore feed freely through the spindle. To prevent longitudinal movement of the spin- I equip'the spindle with thrust ball-bearings, 7, 7. The thrust bearings act against opposite ends of one of the bearings, 12'.

The drum, 4, contains a plurality of polishing devices proper, all held between the end plate, 6, and a follower ring, 8, which is screwed into the opposite end of the drum. The parts contained by the drum are of several kinds. Those marked, 9, are internally cylindrical race-rings or linings for the drum,4. The parts, 10, are separator rings. The parts, 11, which are preferably formed separately from either of the parts 9 and 10, are spacers. Preferably, all of the rings, 9, separators, 10, and spacers, 11, neatly fit the drum, 4, and are held against rotation therein by a spline or key, 12. And all these parts are rigidly held in the drum by being jammed between the head, 6, and the threaded follower ring, 8. The further parts contained by the drum, 4, are the small cylindrical rolls, R, within the rings, 9, and the roll cages or rings, R; the latter loosely occupying the spaces between the rings and the separators, and containing the hubs, r, of the rolls, R. The ends, 1", that work against the separators.

It will now be clear that eachpolishing device proper which is carried by the drum or sleeve, 4, comprises a ring, 9, two separators, 10, spaced therefrom, a set or series of rolls, R, and two cage rings, R.- In several cases the separators are common to two polishing devices, as shown. The length of each roll, R, with its hubs, 1", is such that it fits neatly, but not snugly, between two separators, 10, the latter being the abutments which prevent endwise or longitudinal movement of the rolls, R, in their race rings. Obviously the rolls, R, run upon the inner peripheries or race-surfaces, 9, of respective rings, 9; and, the ball-shaped or rounded ends, 1", of the roll hubs, 1', both turn and slide against the sides of respective separators, 10. .Each race or ring, 9, contalns many rolls, R, the number being nearly suflicient to fill the race. The hubs, 1', of the rolls are preferably loosely held in holes or journals, 7*, in the rings, R. The rings, R, serve to separate the rolls and fix the distance between the centers thereof.

hubs, 1", have ball-like The rings, R, may'serve to hold the rolls, R, strictly parallel with the main axis of the races; but I prefer that the rings, R, shall be so loose as to leave the rolls quite free so that one end of each may move slightly in advance of the other. My observations indicate that the best results aresecured when the rolls have a. measure of freedom in this respect, so that'they may work naturally upon axes somewhat out of parallelism with the main axis of the roll races.

It will be observed that each circular series of rolls, R, presents a central opening to receive the tube, T. The central opening, or, in other words the working circumference defined by the inner sides of the series of rolls, which first receives the tube, T, is of a size to admit the dull or unfinished tube. The dimensions of the second series are preferably slightly less than of the first to effect a compression of the tubing, and the third series is again preferably slightly smaller in working circumference. Thus I prefer thatv the tubing, as it advances through the polishing head, shall be subjected to successive, though slight, reductions. On the other hand, excellent results can be secured by employing several series of rolling or polishing sets or devices all of the same dimensions. Indeed, in cases where an extremely high polish is desired I may increase the number of the polishing sets, and prefer that the terminal sets shall be identical dimensions and have little, if any, compressive or reducing effect upon the tube. When the hollow spindle is rotated, the rolls are caused to travel around the tube; and thus acting at high speed, they serve to correct any non-circularity of the tube and also compress and reform the surface skin thereof, efiectually obliterating surface imperfections, ultimately and very quickly reducing the surface to a highly polished state.

To maintain the parts in proper working condition and to secure a high polish upon the cold material, I pass a volume of water through the polishing head as it works upon the moving tubing.- This lubricant is preferably soapy water, and serves also to wash away any particles that are removed from the surface of the tubing or occasioned by wear. I admit the water or other lubricant through the tail-block b and it flows thence toward and through the polishing head, finally discharging through the nozzle 6 and into the stationary drain cup, e. I employ packings in the tail block, to prevent leakage of water around the spindle and around the polishing tube. The packing, p, is held against the rotary spindle by a follower p. This follower is pressed upon by a second follower, 19 which contains the packing, p. The packing, p presses upon the polished surface of the circumferential tube, T, and is held between thefollower, p and third follower, p. A jam ring, screwed into the end of the block, 6 holds all of the followers and packings under coinpression; that is, keeps the packings tight. As shown, the lubricant enters between the packings, p, and 7); being supplied through a pipe, W, connected with the tail block.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the tube while held against rotation (by feeding vise) is transversely rolled at high speed by a large number of small rolls, and that as it moves forward it is thereby progressively rounded, sized, reformed as to its surface skin, and smoothed, the re-forming and smoothing action of the lubricated rolls imparting a clean, brilliant polish to the compressed or condensed surface of the metal. I prefer that the cylindrical rolls, R, shall be true cylinders, butthat their ends shall be chamfered or rounded (as shown in Fig. 3) to avoid possibility of marking the surface of the tube. It'is preferable also that the cylindrical races, 9, shall be true cylinders and of substantially the same length as the rolls, B.

An advantage of the described construction is that the parts of the polishing head may be assembled and taken apart easily and quickly; and larger and smaller sets of rolls may be used'in a single rotary drum. One advantage pertaining to the caging of the rolls lies in the fact that this design admits of variations in the number of small rolls and insures uniformity of action. By separating the rolls I am better able to determine and govern their sweeping and cross rolling action transversely against the surface of the tubing and thus determining the finish imparted to the surface-skin of the tubing.

As various modifications all within the scope of the appended claims will readily suggest'themselves to one skilled in the art, I do not limit or confine the invention to the specific structures herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The improvement herein described, comprising a drum open at its ends, mounted for rotation at high speed and containing a cylindrical roll-race, in combination with a series of cylindrical rollsin said race, and means axially confining said rolls and spacing'them in said race.

2. The improvement herein described, comprising a drum open at its ends, mounted for rotation at high speed and containing a drum on the-end of said spindle, a race in a roll-race and roll-end abutments, in comblnatlon wlth a number of rolls in said race and presenting their ends to said abutments,

and means spacing said rolls in said race.

4; The improvement herein descrlbed,

- comprising a drum open at its ends, mountend abutments,

ed for rotation at high speed and containing a plurality "of roll-races, and respective rollin combination with a number of rolls in each said race and presenting their ends to respective abutments, and cage rings axially spacing said rolls and revoluble therewith.

5. ,The improvement herein described, comprising a drum open at its ends, mounted for rotation at high speed and containing a plurality of cylindrical roll-races and respective roll-end abutments, in combination witha number of cylindrical rolls in each said race, said racespresenting their ends to and being spaced apart by respective abutments a 6. The improvement herein described, comprising a drum open at-its ends, mounted for rotation'at high speed and containing a cylindrical roll-race and abutments "all fixed in said drum, in combination withma number of cylindricalrolls in said race, and cage rings holding the ends of the rolls and revolubletherewith in said drum.

7. The improvement herein described, comprising a drum open at its ends, mounted for rotation at hlgh speed and containing a roll-race and roll-end abutments all fixed in said drum, in combination with a. number of rolls in said race and presenting rounded ends to said abutments, and cage rings spacing the rolls in the race and revoluble in said drum.

8. The improvement herein described, comprising a drum open at its ends, mount- I ed for rotation at high speed and containing several cylindrical roll-races and roll-end abutments, in combination with a numberof cylindrical rolls in each said race and presenting reduced ends to respective abutments, and cage rings holding the reduced ends of the respective rolls.

9. The improvement herein described, comprising a drum open at its ends and mounted for-rotation at high speed, in combination with a plurality of rolls, means caging and axially spacing said rolls and revoluble therewith, and a race ring peripherally confining said rolls.

10.' The improvement -herein described, comprising a hollow spindle mounted for rotation at high speed, in combination with said drum, and rolling elements in said race.

11. The, improvement herein described, comprising a hollow spindle mounted for rotation at high speed, in combination with a drum on the end of said spindle, a plurality of races in said drum, and a plurality of rolling elements in each said race.

12. The improvement herein described, comprising a hollow spindle mounted for rotation at high speed, 1n combination with a drum on the end of said spindle, a plurality of cylindrical races in said drum, a plurality of cylindrical, rolling elements in each said race, and means spacing said elements in their races and holding them against longitudinal movement in the drum.

13. The improvement herein described, comprising a hollow spindle mounted for rotation at high speed, in combination with in said drum, a plurality of rollingelements in said race, means for directinglubricant through said spindle and drum in one direction, and a drain for receiving the lubricant from said drum.

15. The improvement herein described, comprising a hollow spindle and its bearings, in combination with a roll race on one end of said spindle, a number of tubing rolls in said race, a packing at the other end of said spindle, a second packing for action upon the rolled tubing and a lubricant connection between said packings.

16. The improvement herein described comprising av hollow spindle and its bearings, in combination with a tube polishing head on one end of said spindle, a packing at the opposite end of said spindle, a second packing for action upon the tube and a lubricant supply connection between said packings.

17. The improvement herein described comprising a hollow spindle and its bearings, in combination with a tube polishing head on one end of said spindle, a packing at the opposite end of said spindle, a second packing for action upon the tube, a lubrican t connection between said packings, said head having a lubricant discharge, and a circumferential drain cup positioned to receive the lubricant therefrom.

18. The improvement herein described comprising a hollow spindle and its bearings, in combination with a tube polishing head on one end of said spindle, a lubricant supply connection at the opposite end of said spindle, and a circumferential drain positioned to receive the lubricant from said head. .a

19. The improvements herein described, comprising a hollow spindle in combination with its bearings, thrust bearings preventing longitudinal movement of said splndle,

a drum on the end of said spindle, a race comprising a hollow spindle and its bearings, in combination with means preventing longitudinal movement of said splndle, a hollow polishing head on one end of sa1d spindle, a lubricant supply connection at the opposite end of said spindle, and means for directing the lubricant through said spindle and head in one direction only.

21. The improvement herein described, comprising a hollow spindle mounted for rotation at high speed, in combination with a drum detachably fixed on the end of said spindle. a plurality of race-rings and separators fixed in said drum and a set of rolls in each said ring and longitudinally confined by respective separators.

22. The improvement herein described, comprising a hollow spindle mounted for rotation at high speed, in combination with a drum detachably fixed on the end of said spindle, a race-ring and separators fixed in said drum, freely revoluble cage rings, and

a plurality of rolls in said race-ringabutting said separators and spaced by said cage rings.

23. The improvement herein described,

comprising a hollow spindle, in combination with bearings therefor, means preventing longitudinal movement of the spindle in said bearings, a face-plate on the end of said spindle, a drum coaxial with said spindle and detachably fixed on said face-plate, and tube rolling elements in said drum.

24. The improvement herein described,

comprising means for feeding tubing while holding it against rotation, in combination with a relatively axially fixed hollow spindle mounted for rotation and co-axial with the projected axis of the tube feeding and holding means and a polishing head on the end of said spindle adjacent said means.

25. The improvement herein described, comprising means for feeding tubing while holding it against rotation, in combination with a relatively axially fixed hollow spin dle mounted for rotation and co-axial with the projected axis of the tube feeding and holding means, a polishing head on one end of said spindle adjacent said means, and a lubricant supply connection at the other end of said spindle- 26. The improvement herein described, comprising meansfor feeding tubing while holding it against rotation, in combination with a relatively axially fixed hollow spindle mounted for rotation and co-aXial with the projected axis of the tube feeding and holding means, a drum on the end" of said spindle adjacent said means, a plurality of roll races in said drum, and a set of rolls in each said race.

27. The improvement herein described,

comprising two devices for feeding tubing while holding it against rotation, in combination with two relatively axially fixed hollow spindles each mounted for rotation and co-axial with the projected axis of its tube feeding and holdin means, on the end of 6:131 spindle adjacent said means, a driving mechanism positioned between said spindles and a clutch controlled connection between said mechanism and each said spindle. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20 day of January, 1915, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I MARSHALL'B. LLOYD. Witnesses:

GEO. C. W. KLIPPEL, JNo. JQVAN Dnnnsn.

a polishing head' 

